North Texas overcomes Rice, 85-78

Down by five with fifty seconds remaining, Rice seemed poised for another heart-pounding finish at Tudor Fieldhouse on Saturday. For one of Conference USA’s lowest ranked teams, there was pressure to win, sure; but a victory would be a crucial step in carrying momentum from last week’s Charlotte win over to another week.

The Owls (4-14, 1-4) ultimately fell to North Texas, 85-78, as a barrage of perimeter shooting proved too much for the Owls to overcome.

The Owls and Mean Green (10-8, 3-2) slugged their way through a tight first half, regularly trading the lead through most of the period.

It was a balanced effort.

At times it was freshmen like Malik Osborne and Najja Hunter attacking the defense with authority. Other times it was their veterans like Connor Cashaw who dropped a team-leading 10 points, and finished with 30.

Rice recaptured some of its early momentum when senior Bishop Mency drained a deep three as the half expired. At halftime, Rice was on top 37-35.

Coming out of the locker room, North Texas seized control in the first five minutes. The Mean Green opened the half showering the Owls from behind the arc and vaulting ahead 51-41 before coach Scott Pera called a timeout to stop the bleeding.

Rice Owls guard Najja Hunter (14) puts up two in the paint against North Texas Mean Green at Tudor Fieldhouse on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, in Houston.

Rice Owls guard Najja Hunter (14) puts up two in the paint against North Texas Mean Green at Tudor Fieldhouse on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

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Rice Owls guard Najja Hunter (14) puts up two in the paint against North Texas Mean Green at Tudor Fieldhouse on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, in Houston.

Rice Owls guard Najja Hunter (14) puts up two in the paint against North Texas Mean Green at Tudor Fieldhouse on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018, in Houston.

Photo: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

North Texas overcomes Rice, 85-78

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Rice may have lost control of the game then had it not been for guard Ako Adams, whose timely drives and pull-up scores kept Rice in striking distance.

Rice emerged from a timeout break playing faster than before. They wiped the offensive boards clean, giving themselves second and third chance shots. They cut the lead to six when Mency sank a corner trey but North Texas continued to hit from deep.

Instead they matched the Mean Green, scoring a field goal or forcing a turnover to keep things close. With just under eight minutes left, Rice trailed 68-63.

With two minutes remaining, Rice narrowed the lead to three but it was Smart again, extending the lead from behind the arc.

The Mean Green’s production was too steady in the second half. The offensive onslaught—and perhaps some unfavorable calls—kept a victory out of reach. Rice travels to Southern Miss (9-9, 2-3) next on Thursday.